Why Six Flags Had To Close 7 Theme Parks

We talk a lot about Disney, but if you’re a roller coaster fan and you’re looking for a hometown theme park experience, Six Flags is one of the biggest players in the game.

©Visit Silicon Valley

The Six Flags Entertainment Corporation operates more than 40 properties throughout the United States, from amusement parks to water parks to resorts, and its business has evolved quite a bit over the years. In past decades, many of their theme parks have changed operating companies, and some have even been shut down. So with more closures lined up for the future, we’re here to break down the history of the theme parks Six Flags closed.

Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor

Starting off with a closure that’s coming soon, Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor are closing after 25 years of operation at the end of the 2025 season. The parks’ final operating day will be Sunday, November 2nd, 2025.

©Six Flags

Six Flags President and CEO Richard A. Zimmerman said, “As part of our comprehensive review of our park portfolio, we have determined that Six Flags America and Hurricane Harbor are not a strategic fit with the company’s long-term growth plan.”

Learn More About the Closure Here!

California’s Great America

Another scheduled closure by the Six Flags parent company is California’s Great America. This park is located in Santa Clara, California, and is set to close at the end of the 2027 season. The park’s lease ends on June 30th, 2028, and will not be renewed.

©Visit Silicon Valley

Six Flags Chief Financial Officer Brian Witherow said of the California and Maryland park closures, “Those are two parks that are very low on the ranking of margins.” This park was initially owned by Cedar Fair, but that company merged with Six Flags in a deal worth $8 billion back in 2024.

Get More Details on This Story Here!

Other Parks That Have Closed in the Past

But those aren’t the only parks Six Flags has shut down over the years. Four other theme parks have been closed by the company in the past. Six Flags AstroWorld was located in Houston, Texas and operated seasonally. It closed and was demolished at the end of the 2005 season, according to the Houston Chronicle, with low attendance being the likely reason for its closure.

©Six Flags

AutoWorld was another Six Flags park that had to close down. It was an indoor theme park in Flint, Michigan, that originally opened in 1984. According to Michigan Live, it officially closed in 1985 because it didn’t draw enough out-of-town visitors. It continued to host occasional events until closing completely and being demolished in 1997.

©Six Flags

Six Flags New Orleans was — you guessed it — a theme park the company established in New Orleans in 2002 after its predecessor, Jazzland, went bankrupt. The park lasted a few years but sustained heavy damage due to Hurricane Katrina. After that, the park was declared a total loss, and the lease with the city of New Orleans was terminated, according to NOLA.

©Washington Post

Lastly, we have the story of Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom. It was originally a theme park built on fairgrounds, and it went through a few major business changes before being purchased by Six Flags in 1998. They ran the park until 2009, when they shut it down. NBC News reported that Six Flags closed the park during bankruptcy proceedings when the Kentucky Fair State Board refused to amend its lease on the land. But the twist here? Kentucky Kingdom and its Hurricane Bay Water Park reopened in 2014 under new management. So it’s technically still open today…just with a new look!

©TripAdvisor

So what’s on the chopping block next? It looks like Six Flags in St. Louis could be the next park to go, though attendance is still acceptable. We’ll continue to keep an eye out for any closure news.

Stay tuned to DFB for more theme park news.

4 Theme Parks Have Permanently Closed in 2025 — Click Here

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